Columns & Production Tips

Concern about public concerns

Farmers don't generally trust urban views. This won't help us move forward

By Toban Dyck January 24, 2017

Recently I was elected president of the Stanley Agricultural Society. The nomination shocked me. The election results also shocked me. It was my first time being the subject of a vote. I sat there, looking around at Society members cast their ballots. My leg was jumping. My heart was pounding. I was sweating. I already […] Read more

More whole milk is needed to meet the basic water requirement of pre-weaned calves.

Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Pre-weaned calves need extra water

Dairy Corner: Satisfying thirst also promotes good dry calf starter intake

By Peter Vitti January 19, 2017

Feeding milk replacer or whole milk does not provide enough water for growing pre-weaned dairy calves. Young calves have a natural requirement for water which is often higher and separate than what is provided by most milk-based feeding programs. By providing all the water needed, calves adapt to dry calf starter quicker, grow faster and […] Read more

Reporter. Taking notes. Media interview.

Columns

Reporter’s Notebook: Tips for safely managing ag reporters

Some tips on how to talk to reporters, and why you might want to in the first place

By Lisa Guenther January 17, 2017

Last spring I wrote a column designed to scare all of you from ever talking to a reporter. If you’ve run into a pack of farm reporters at a field day, you’ll know why I felt compelled to warn you. (Just kidding, we’re okay). I thought I’d start the New Year with a couple more […] Read more

Crops, Wheat & Chaff

Testing for seed quality

By Carolyn Wilson January 16, 2017

At the grower meetings and events I’ve been to in the last few months, one topic on everyone’s mind is poor seed quality coming out of the challenging 2016 growing season. Last season had excessive moisture, high humidity and heavy disease pressure across most areas. Factor in an extended fall that brought cooler temperatures, and […] Read more

CASA’s mobile unit will be the first in Canada. It is modelled after  units already in use in the United States.

News, Wheat & Chaff

“BeGrainSafe” gets off the ground

?Farm Safety: See the Canadian Ag Safety Association’s new mobile demonstration at a show near you

By Canadian Agricultural Safety Association January 16, 2017

Grain is the life of most farming operations. Grain volumes, storage capacities and handling rates continue to grow in Canada in response to larger yields and a growing world population that requires grain products. Along with this good news, there is some bad news. The frequency of grain entrapments is growing nationally. In 2015 alone, […] Read more

Raw palm kernels need to be crushed and oil rendered, fractioned, filtered and separated before being turned into commercial beads, prilled or flaked free-fatty acids.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Dairy Corner: Don’t overdo palm fat in dairy cattle rations

Palm fat can help increase milk fat, but more isn’t necessarily better

By Peter Vitti January 6, 2017

There has been an explosive use of palm fat in many dairy diets. This growth has been fuelled by the numerous incentive days issued by milk marketing boards to increase milk fat production in lactating dairy cows. On the plus side, I see a profitable milk fat increase on many farms because some bypass palm […] Read more

Columns, Crops

Start planning spring crop rotations

Strong crop rotations can bring along a wealth of long-term agronomic benefits

By Ross H. McKenzie January 5, 2017

Crop rotations can be used to take advantage of differences in how each crop in a rotation contributes to increased soil organic matter, aids in pest management, manages soil nutrients and controls soil erosion. Rotating different crops in the same field can effectively promote sustainable crop production. If you haven’t already started planning your crops […] Read more

Columns, Crops

Good stewardship vs. soil health

Will the temptations of higher profits push Toban Dyck into unhealthy rotations?

By Toban Dyck January 5, 2017

I’m going be insufferable. If you can handle that, read on. I’m going to theorize about things that make me sound like I’m trying to be old and wise. I’m neither. I just hear things. And I’m a green enough farmer that many things are new to me and they stick. The last of my […] Read more

Columns, Guarding Wealth

Guarding Wealth: Canadian interest rates to rise

But don’t hold your breath — any big rate moves are at least 18 months ahead

By Andrew Allentuck December 30, 2016

To quote the most recent winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, Bob Dylan, “the times, they are a-changin’.” In capital markets, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board is likely to raise the interest rate it charges banks to borrow money overnight to maintain reserves — a key indicator for all other interest rates in the economy. This increase […] Read more

Columns, Markets

A post-long-harvest wrap up

Some marketing advice in the wake of this year’s drawn out nightmare of a harvest

By Brian Wittal December 29, 2016

I truly hope that by the time you are reading this your harvest has been completed. If not, a spring harvest could bring financial challenges that you’ll need to address to ensure your farm doesn’t end up in undue financial stress because of lost income or a deferred, if any, crop insurance payment in spring. […] Read more

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